The Rangers aren’t optimistic that they’ll land one of the Rays’ controllable starting pitchers, writes FOX’s Ken Rosenthal in his latest notes column. The Rays continue to focus on Jurickson Profar, who could fill a void at shortstop, but the Rangers like the idea of Profar playing all four infield positions and seeing time for them in the outfield next year as well. The Rangers may be willing to budge on Profar if it meant Chris Archer, but Jake Odorizzi and Matt Moore are seemingly held in lesser regard.
A few more highlights from the piece…
- The Rays are also receiving interest in their starters from non-contending clubs that are aiming to contend within the next couple of seasons. That gives Tampa Bay further leverage in talks, as they’re not limited to restocking their farms with only prospects from clubs that are currently in contention. The Astros, too, are eyeing the limited number of controllable arms that are available, and the division rivalry aspect could play into Tampa Bay’s favor if both Texas and Houston set their sights on the same Rays arm. Alternatively, each of their starters has so much club control remaining that the Rays could just wait until the offseason and market their starters as teams miss out on the few quality free agents that are available.
- The Cubs are still seeking a top-tier left-handed reliever even after landing Mike Montgomery, but they’re also eyeing Athletics outfielder Josh Reddick, as previously reported by Jon Morosi. Rosenthal writes that some teams may eventually concede that the pitching help they covet isn’t going to be available at a price they like and could simply upgrade the offense, thinking that adding value is adding value regardless of position. Reddick, he notes, would be an upgrade for the Cubs over Chris Coghlan, and deepening a roster in any fashion bodes well for the playoffs.
- The Astros are looking for left-handed relief help and asked the Braves about Hunter Cervenka as a fallback option if their primary, more established targets don’t pan out. Fellow left-hander Ian Krol has gotten some looks for the Braves as well, Rosenthal notes, though I’d personally imagine that Krol would have a higher price tag, as Cervenka has walked nearly six batters per nine innings this season and has limited big league experience.
Take Cervenka and Atlanta can throw in a Johnson for free!
Take Krol too. Guy is El Terrible.
It would appear the Rays are the most popular team in baseball at the moment and figure to be the most active seller at the deadline if these sources end up being correct.
The Rays picked a good year to be terrible because it might just work out immensely in regards to their returns on these trades. Vast amount of buyers and little to no true sellers.
“No true sellers?” I guess you don’t visit here often, and have missed what has been posted on some of the talent Milwaukee has up for grabs.
Starting pitching talent
I doubt that Jimmy Nelson and Junior Guerra are off the table in trade talks. Not that they are front-line aces on most contending teams, but they both have lots of team control remaining which is attractive and have been effective this year
Hi I’m southi
Okay, I’m really puzzled about how someone else can use my exact name here, and why they would desire to do so.
I have been having issues the last few days off and on posting things, but disappointed and concerned with this apparent development.
What is going?
I was confused with the comment, surely not your style.
I’m glad you’ve noticed. Over the last several days when on my cell phone I’ve had tons of issues posting. I have no issues while on my actual computer though. I saw the “Hi I’m southi” message earlier, and it really shocked me. I can’t tell any difference in how the name appears (unless maybe the were able to put a blank space in the front or the back of it??). All I know is that I did not post “Hi, I’m southi” and it definitely bothered me to see my name listed even though I definitely didn’t post it.
On a good news front, I definitely know that the name, password associated with the account, nor my email are NOT connected to any accounts (which I’m broke lol) or any other important info about me. With that said, however, honor, integrity, and reputation do matter to me in various degrees. I’d hate to see those negatively influenced by a pretender on one of my favorite websites.
I’ve had an issue as well, but opposite end of the spectrum. I keep MLBTR on my favorites, and yesterday or Wednesday I went to the comments section of an article an noticed that I was supposedly logged in as someone else(knucklecurve I believe). Actually had to log out and back in to post under my name. Not cool, I could have said anything I wanted using his name… (I use my phone mostly, and it is a 4S if that helps)
Sending you an email on this.
wondering if the Jays try and make a trade in the next few hours with a lefty arm. they have morales who they need to activate or risk losing and he would be a nice lefty addition to a contenders pen. it’s no miller or Chapman but the price would virtually be a very low level “prospect”
They activated morales
I would think he would have to be a part of a bigger package to get any value at all out of, he hasn’t pitched this year in the majors, not even sure he’s healthy at this point. But I agree with your thinking that he could be a useful lefty for somebody that doesn’t want to pay the big ticket prices.
I hope the Braves are able to move Markakis, but why would the Royals be interested? You would think that the Giants or Indians would be seeking some OF help.
Would Coppy be interested in bringing in a Sonny Gray? The A’s have always been open to trade high profile players for prospects.
Once again, it would be awesome to see the Braves do some wheelin and dealing with their multiple pitching prospects to go get some players that might create some excitement for the new stadium in 2017
Don’t expect anything before the trade deadline. Look toward the summer. Also, even after a few trades it’s looking more and more like 18 is the most optimistic approach
Markakis I think would be a decent fit in Toronto with his high obp. With JB and Saunders leaving after this year plugs a hole nicely at a decent cost as well.
That is a good call jaysfan, have thought the same about Detroit.
Nothing like having a 11 million dollar high OBP guy on your roster.
Detroit has JD in right and Upton in left and no need for Markakis. Or want, or desire.
If all they can about a corner OF is good OBP, please I’ll PASS!
We’re not getting Sonny for Markakis… That’s ridiculous
Still think Yankees will regret not pivoting off Schwarber and trying to line up a trade that involved a package of Torres/Candalario and Vogelbach for Miller …
The two teams could still work out a deal, but man – Vogelbachs left handed swing would’ve produced 35 homers at Yankee Stadium. Considering the potential of Torres and Candalario, that would’ve been a huge haul for them.
Also wondering if any of the Cubs/Yanks talks have included Beltran. For two months, that guy could produce as well – or better – than Reddick. And I think the cost for Beltran would be a notch lower, especially if it’s a multi-player deal where much of the return is based on Miller.
I hope the braves are only sellers and not buyers, trying to get Sonny Gray would set the rebuild back and having another good pitcher with no offense is not what we need
Not sure how it would set the rebuild back, they’d move some prospects for him – but he’d anchor a spot for a few years.
I’m curious as to how far away you think the Braves are… Sonny Gray will be a free agent after 2019, and he’s very comparable to Teheran, whom your team doesn’t want to give up for anything. The pieces you’d have to give up for Gray are most likely the ones your team would need to be competitive by the time Gray is leaving. If your team isn’t competitive in 2 years, picking up Gray would be a waste of prospects and time. At 33-63, you’re hardly 1 pitcher away
No guarantee that Gray will rebound (although I expect him to). With that said I don’t expect the Athletics will sell low on him.
all the talk says the cubs consider schwarber untouchable. what if epstein is saying that to drive up the price and forcing a team to overpay for him? think about it, his days at catcher are probably over. he is below average to average defensively in left. could theo be baiting the league? being a cub fan, i hope so. if anyone could pull it off, its him.
Schwarber is not available while injured imo. No team is going to trade a cy young guy for a hurt player like that. I also don’t want him gone as he was clutch in the post season
The Angels might actually be looking to buffer up their roster on a run at the post season instead throwing in the towel. The Rangers are immensely depleted as the Angels might be getting help to the starting rotation. The team WINS FAST with overall effective starting pitching.
Rangers need to go all in on Chris sale, but if they can’t secure him go get Chris archer!! We need a big strikeout guy who can suck up innings.
What about Mark Reynolds with a vacuum cleaner?
Braves should trade Sean Newcomb and Williams Perez or Christopher Ellis and Manny Banuelos to the Rays for Matt Moore.
First: overpay, second: underpay. Ellis and Jenkins would be fair.
If reddick is an upgrade over coghlan then why didn’t the cubs get reddick in may?
He wasn’t available.